After recent criticism over presumed employee exploitation in Tesco, the supermarket giant published some good news, announcing plans to create 20,000 new jobs in the next 2 years.

Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed the plan, which he hopes will provide a boost for Britain’s struggling economy. In a statement he complimented Tesco on their announcement:

“Their commitment to creating jobs and opportunities for young people at what is a difficult time for the economy is fantastic news for the UK as a whole and for those people they will help into work,” he said.

Tesco plans on using the new staff primarily in customer service, but the programme will also focus on refreshing the appearance of existing stores and opening up new ones.

Richard Brasher, Tesco’s UK CEO said:“With youth unemployment at record levels, we’re determined to target many of our new jobs at young people currently out of work – so that in this difficult jobs market those who need help the most will get it.”

Recently Right to Work activists targeted Tesco as being part of the governments work experience scheme, where people on benefits work full-time for free. This scheme was criticized for taking advantage of free labour and undermining workers rights. However Tesco put this negative press down to a misunderstanding over the technicalities of the initiative.

More than 80% of students at school throughout the UK consider the career advice services “a little bit” or worse, “not at all helpful”. At this time of year when UCAS deadlines are creeping closer, it is more important than ever that young adults receive the correct guidance for their futures.

Barbara Hearn, deputy chief executive of the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) understands the importance and pressure upon young adults today: “At this time of unprecedented youth unemployment it is essential that we understand the factors that influence young people’s job and career choices and provide them with useful and effective guidance”.

A report published by the British Youth Council (BYC) has confirmed the fears that a record number of young people are not employed, in education or training. Rajay Naik, aged 22, Chair of the BYC, highlights the action that the younger generation must take in order to survive the recession and come out fighting: “We must invest in developing the potential of our younger generation if we are to sustainably grow our economy out of recession, and part of that depends on providing personalised career guidance.”

However results of a BYC report show hope and direction coming from Britain’s youth. When asked what they wanted to do, the majority of answers fell in the law, media or teaching sector. There was a lack of the stereotypical, and somewhat unrealistic answer of a celebrity, or “famous”. and instead an impressive array of professions including “professor of bone disease”, “trade unionist”, and an “ordained minister”.

There is certainly no lack of imagination or drive, and it is clear that young people today are taking their futures seriously. The older, wiser generation are falling short of what Britain’s youth expects from them, and they are being left to pick up the pieces of a broken nation, unaided and unaware.